I. Effects of black-tailed prairie dogs on reptile and
amphibian community composition in shortgrass prairie habitats of
Kansas Species diversity and abundance of reptiles
and amphibians were measured on and off black-tailed prairie dog
(Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies to determine the extent to
which herpetological species composition in a shortgrass prairie
ecosystem is affected by the presence of black-tailed prairie dog
colonies. Ten species of reptiles and three species of amphibians
were captured. Total amphibian and reptile abundance did not
differ between prairie dog colonies and non-colonized shortgrass
prairie sites, but species composition did. Reptile and amphibian
mean species richness, evenness, and diversity were not different
between treatments. However, the diversity of both treatments
combined was considerably higher than the diversity on shortgrass
prairie without prairie dogs. The mosaic pattern of prairie dog
colonies on non-colonized prairie enhances landscape heterogeneity
and contributes to greater reptile and amphibian diversity patterns
in the shortgrass prairie biome of western Kansas than would occur
without prairie dogs.

II. Effects of black-tailed prairie dogs on beetle community
composition in shortgrass prairie habitats of Kansas
Numerical abundance and diversity of surface-dwelling
beetles were measured on and off black-tailed prairie dog
(Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies to determine the extent to
which families and species of Coleoptera area affected by the
presence of black-tailed prairie dog colonies in a shortgrass
prairie ecosystem. Relative abundance of beetles on and off
prairie dog colonies were highly variable throughout 1996 and 1997.
The total number of beetles captured, and relative abundance of the
five 'major' families, were general greater on prairie dog
colonies. Relative abundance of the remaining 'minor' families
were similar between treatments.

Each beetle family was categorized as a herbivore, decomposer,
or predator. Differences in relative abundance of each trophic
group were compared between treatments. We also examined the
relative abundance of the five 'major' families independently to
determine whether individual family response was consistent with
the response of the entire trophic class. Although, all three
feeding groups showed a positive response to prairie dog colonies,
the phytophagous beetles were more sensitive to prairie dog
activities than the other groups. Inconsistent responses among
individual families within each feeding category were detected.
Within the herbivore group, more Chrysomelidae were captured on
prairie dog colonies in 1996 and 1997. In contrast, the number of
Elateridae captured on prairie dog towns was greater during 1996,
but not 1997; while in both years the number of phytophagous
Scarabaeidae captured on prairie dog colonies was similar to non-
colonized sites. Within the decomposer group, Tenebrionidae showed
patterns that differed greatly depending on collection period. In
contrast, relative abundance of Scarabaeidae categorized as
decomposers showed the same positive response to prairie dog
colonies as the Chrysomelidae. Carabidae was the most abundant
predatory family, and was largely responsible for greater numbers
of predatory beetles sampled on prairie dog colonies.

Richness, evenness, and diversity of Coleoptera families and of
species belonging to the Carabidae and Scarabaeidae families were
also compared between areas with and without prairie dogs. The
most abundant beetle families and most abundant Scarabaeidae and
Carabidae species responded positively to prairie dog colonies,
resulting in high dominance on prairie dog colonies which reduced
Shannon diversity values. Taxonomic richness on shortgrass prairie
was enhanced by sampling a combination of areas with and without
prairie dogs.